Summer cruising 2022…

Posted byPatricia Stoughton

…on the central London Thames

Boats on the central London Thames are back in business. After the economic damage caused by Covid, tourists and party-goers are once again enjoying their river cruises and companies are replenishing their depleted funds. Here below, as a photo-record rather than an exhaustive list, are just some of the boats I’ve seen during daytime this summer from the Thames embankments.

M.V. COCKNEY SPARROW

We’ve often seen the Cockney Sparrow setting off from Westminster on her regular sightseeing cruises between Kew, Richmond & Hampton.

M.V. CONNAUGHT

A regular passer by, the elegant Connaught, also takes passengers along a route from Westminster to Hampton Court, or vice versa.

M.V. EDWARDIAN

The Edwardian adds a look of luxury and grace to the river.

P.S. ELIZABETHAN

Also impressive is the Elizabethan, a replica of an 1890s paddle steamer, her smoke stacks lowered so she can pass under the bridges.

M.V. ERASMUS run by City Experiences
M.V. GOLDEN FLAME

The Golden Flame, one of the Capital Pleasure Boats.

M.V. GOLDEN JUBILEE
M.V. GOLDEN SALAMANDER

The Golden Salamander cruising past the Palace of Westminster. Operating out of central London, she serves the central piers, as well as Putney, Chiswick and Richmond, even travelling up river to Hampton Court and Walton on Thames.

M.V. GOLDEN STAR
M.V. GOLDEN SUNRISE
Horrible Histories on The SILVER SOCKEYE
Dutch barge D.B. LEONIE
London Eye River Cruise on The SILVER BONITO
Viscount Cruises’ M.V. LONDON ROSE
M.V. MERCIA
M.V. MERCURIA
M.V. PEARL OF LONDON
M.V. PRIDE OF LONDON
M.V. RIVER PRINCESS
M.V. ROYALTY
M.V. SALIENT
M.V. SAPELE
M.V. SARPEDON
Woods’ SILVER DARLING, one of a number of small launches along the Thames available for private hire.
Bateaux London’s SYMPHONY
Uber boat, Thames Clipper JUPITER
M.V. THOMAS DOGGETT, one of the Thames River Sightseeing regulars.
M.V. VALULLA
M.V. VISCOUNT cruising upstream along Lambeth Reach.

There are needless to say, some obvious daytime gaps, including Woods’ glamorous Silver Sturgeon and Silver Barracuda that I haven’t photographed with guests. Though there are no night-time images here, there are of course many night-time cruises and trips to be had and, with the nine illuminated bridges, a central London trip is even more magical.
If you are going to be in London at dusk on September 24, there is a special event to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: An illuminated “Jubilee Reflections Flotilla” of 150 boats parading from Chelsea to Tower Bridge.

Further information
To know more, you can click on the marked links above for further information though, as sometimes more than one company is involved, you will need to check that links are up-to-date. You could also visit these sites:
River Boat Tours
Thames River Sightseeing tours and timetable.
The title picture is of City Cruises’ boat Millennium City.
Westminster Pier the departure point for many popular cruises.